The natural and limited resources of the earth
Land is a limited resource. It is the layer of our planet ‘earth’. The resource has always been present. Their forms, fertility, and appearance have evolved and receded with human activities. The resource that was once considered abundant is becoming scarce. The value of land is an indicator of its scarcity. It is true that land is a limited resource and it will become even more scarce in the near future.
why protect the earth
Fertile and untapped land has always been a symbolic representation of freedom. It stands as a critical identity for the United States. The natural resource has lately been in danger of being depleted by development. The trend has been degenerative. Vast acres of natural land are being destroyed for monetary incentives. The controversial abuse of the resource led to the creation of the first national park, in 1872, called Yellowstone. The people finally understood that the land was limited and once destroyed it would be impossible to repair the damage. The land must be preserved for the present and the future. There are roughly 160 million protected acres in the United States right now split almost evenly between wildlife refuges and national parks. The natural resource is still being depleted by deforestation for agriculture and other development.
What will happen when the limited lands run out?
The magnitude of the limitation can be phenomenal. Right now the land is in high demand. Massive deforestation is increasing its availability for infrastructure. Altruistically, pressure groups such as local and international institutions are trying to prevent the pattern of felling trees. This is restricting the availability of land. Once expansion activities are fully restricted, land will be more limited. It will put pressure on the capitalist to gain control or so-called monopoly possession of the land. Large areas and acres of land will be unavailable or even priceless in the distant future.
Who owns most of the land?
Most of the wealth is owned by only 10% of the population. Natural land is more distributed but the rich are the ones who take the biggest part of the pie. They have the negotiating power and capital to buy even more. This eventually makes them owners of two critical resources, land and capital. This is what will keep the lower classes at a lower level in terms of ownership and power.
Invest in land for a reason?
Americans can invest in land for different reasons. It’s certainly not out of patriotism. It is rather for self-centered purposes. Whatever the reason, it is important to distribute the property between the middle and low income classes. This will help the buyer in the future and give it a fixed and material value. The land can always be used or re-sold if the need arises. It is a determined and safe investment.
All resources are limited. The earth cannot be extended or created overnight. Its relationship with natural resources is having a certain disparity with the intervention of man. It continues to be a gift, a symbolic memory and a resource for our future generation to survive.
Further reading (national park identification)
Eve Endicott., 1993. Land Conservation Through public/private partnerships, Island Press. Page 1-3